Touch of whimsy for Town Hall as street artist draws up plans
May 24, 2021
Select Board Chair Shawn McDonald presents Tom Bob’s idea for a mural on Town Hall at a May 24 Select Board meeting.
The mural would incorporate a globe lighting fixture like this one, McDonald said.
Some examples of Tom Bob’s recent work from his Instagram account, @tombobnyc. Many of his pieces can be seen in New Bedford.
The rear entrance to Town Hall will be getting an artistic facelift courtesy of native son and street artist “Tom Bob,” after the Select Board approved plans to liven up a wall with a mural.
Artist Tom Bobrowiecki, known online as “Tom Bob,” has made a name for himself with his colorful, quirky pieces that liven up walls and street fixtures from New Bedford to Brooklyn.
According to Select Board Chair Shawn McDonald, the artist — son of former Dartmouth High teacher and baseball coach Michael Bobrowiecki — has agreed to donate a mural on an exterior rear wall at Town Hall.
“I came into Town Hall maybe sometime in the fall, and one of the things that just struck me as I walked in the back down to the first level is just how boring and blah those walls are when you enter to get to the elevator,” McDonald told board members at a May 24 meeting.
“I asked him to take a look at the walls,” he noted. “He’s got a unique slant on things.”
McDonald said that the artist had previously painted the bath house at Round Hill beach to look like aliens were invading.
For Town Hall, Bobrowiecki came up with the idea to turn an outdoor light fixture into a little girl blowing a bubble.
“It’s quirky, it’s lighthearted, and it’s kind of fun,” McDonald said. “And it’s something that we need, to be honest with you.”
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Stanley Mickelson. “But it seems to me there may be some pushback.”
“I love the idea for something fun and fancy,” said board Vice Chair David Tatelbaum, who brought up concerns that it could spark other, unwanted paintings “in the dark of the night” or that other artists might be resentful that they weren’t asked to contribute.
But Town Administrator Shawn MacInnes pointed out that there are security cameras around the property, while McDonald noted that Tom Bob volunteered. “Believe me, I don’t want to start a cultural war,” he laughed.
“Maybe you’d alleviate some of those fears if there was a timeline for the duration of the artwork,” board member John Haran suggested.
“I see nothing wrong with putting something up that might put a smile on somebody’s face for a while,” commented board member Frank Gracie III.
The Select Board voted unanimously in favor of the mural, which will remain in place for at least six months.
